The game of the tournament so far saw England renew its rivalry with Croatia in a six-goal thriller. This time, England triumphed, energizing its bid to end 60 years of hurt on the international stage. Thomas Tuchel was appointed with the simple task of coaching England to a World Cup win, and England showed early signs of his tactical acumen, but also his ability to inspire his players. Midfielder Declan Rice spoke glowingly of the halftime talk that helped spur England from a 2-2 tie at half-time to the 4-2 win, as the Three Lions roared out of the blocks in the second half. Earlier, a pair of Harry Kane goals — his ninth and 10th at World Cups — had twice put England ahead, only for some sloppy defending and smart attacking play to give Croatia a route back.